Instrument holder



June 1952 v. E. HOFMANN 2,600,771

INSTRUMENT HOLDER Filed Nov. 15, 1947 INVENTOR. lfzarmzfl HUI-MANN Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED INSTRUMENT HOLDER Victor. E. Hoi:mann, Toledo, Ohio Application November 13, 1947, Serial No. 7853599 8 Claims. IV

This invention relates to holding means orsupports for chronometers, stop watches, poclget compasses. and the like, and one object ofgthe invention is to provide a; simple.. detachable means or holder byv which a personmaycarry a stop watch or similarlyshaped instrument in the hand and be assured that it will remain-securely therein even though at the samev time the fingers may be engaged in-manipulating; parts of the watch or other instrument withoutrequiring the assistance of ones other hand;

Another object is to providea constructionfor a holder as mentioned whereby the holder may be rendered adaptable to fit the average, size of watch case or other instrument although the watch or instrument cases may-varyslightly in thickness or diameter, or the. bail may be of greater or lesser proportions,

Further object of the invention resides :inthe provision of a holder for chronometers or similar instruments which may be readily applied to and removed from the instrument without use of special tools.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation; and iunotionof the related elements of the structure, tovarious. details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economiesof; manuiacture and numerous other features as-will be apparent from a consideration of the; specification and drawing of a form of the invention which may bepreferred, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred form of ol r avin a hinged l op, r bailadaptedtc slip over a finger of the users-hand;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational viewof theholder as'shown in, Figural;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing another form of holder;

Figure 4 is a rearelevationalview of the .holder shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view illustrating a modified form of holder;

Figure 6 is a rear view ofsthe holder shown in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a sideelevational view of another form of holder.

Figure 8 is a rear elevationalview of thelstructure shown in Figurefl;

Figure 9 is a side.elevationa1-view showing a further form of the invention;

Figure 10'is a rear view -ofthe device shown-in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of a further modified form, and

Figure 12 is a rear elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 11.

While I have illustrated the forms of my invention as utilized as holders for a chronometer of 'the pocketrwateh typegit- 155110 be: understood that I contemplate use ot my invention wherever the-same mayi bez ound 0-.haveu ti1ity;-

Referring to the-drawings indetail, with particular reference -to Figu-res land 2, there is, illustrated a watch or instrument case;W provided withstem- Sand-bail Bihaving a holder l5 attached thereto.

The holder I5 ispreferably: madeoflmetallic tempered wire frame lfl-and' -is inclusi-ve of le portions [6 having; projecting end portions ll of somewhat arcuate form to engage orembrace the lower side wall region of the'watch or instrumentcase with resilient force; At the-upper end of the frame I4: aloop, orhook l8 by means of which the 'ho1der;l5'j;is initially hooked to the bail B of the-watch,;case. Connecting legs l9 and 20 forming thebodyotthe frame are 10011 tiguously arranged; adjacent the flat rear face of the watch case; 'lhe leg zflds formed with eyes 2-! formed; by configurating; the wire for the-purposeof receiving a finger, loop or. U- shaped member 22 The finger grip; 22v as shown in provided with projectingpendst-23 for pivotal engagement with thezeyes 2| to permit hinging or folding back oi the finger grip;22 against the case in aposition out-of-use.

In Figures 3 and 4; I :have shown an instrument holder 251formed-cof metallic wire-butof one piece construction. In-this form the lower leg portions 26 having arcuate endeportions fl, hook 28,; and a pair ot finger loops '29:are formed from a single continuous wire, In this form of the: invention thes-finger grips-or loops 29pmvideia degree ofg'esilience to maintain the holder in-engagement with the instrument caser A further advantage with this construction lies in the fact that this holderf may; 'beused asa pedestal for, mounting the watch; upon a horizontal sup port or table withthefinger grip loops 29 in contact with the table.

In Figures ,5 and 56, there ;is. illustrated a form of. the invention inwhich; a; -body portion orirame 32 is .formed of sheet metal, and'lis configurated with outwardly-extending arcuately shaped-tabs orv projections 33 -for engagement with; thel-peripheral contour of the watch;- or instrum n case- 'I'he upper portion of the -sheetzmctal; frame is formed with a reverselywbent tabv 34 havin la hook or hook-like extremity :35 for engagement with the bail .B of theswatch; case; The reverse bend portion 34 provides the resilience sfor :initial attachment :of the:ho1der to. the watch? as well as to retain the holder on:=the watch-;-. The frame;32 is formed with spaced,=struckup-lateral projections or ears 36 to"receive=the'pr0jecting ends of loop 22 for attachment to a-fing-er of the users hand.

The above described holders may be quickly and. easily attached to the watch orinstrument case by first engaging the hook I8, 28 or hook 35 with the bail B, then flexing the lower members I1, 21 or 33 downwardly and outwardly around the peripheral edges of the instrument case W.

Some types of stop watches are fitted with a side mounted brake or stop means M as shown in Figures 7 and 8. Furthermore a suspension means, strap or other device L may be attached to the bail of the watch and so make it inconvenient to attach the above described holders thereto. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a form of the invention to overcome these difficulties in which a stamping or frame 40 of light gage metal is provided with lower leg portions 4| having arcuately formed ends 42 adapted to fit over the periphery of the watch case W. The upper portion is formed with a bifurcated hook portion 43 adapted to straddle the stem S of the watch case and snap over the upper edge of the case so as not to interfere with the operation of the brake button M at the side of the case. Spaced ears 45 having openings 46 are struck up from the frame 40 to pivotally receive the finger loop 22 and to permit its folding back against the case to a position out-of-use.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a form of the invention in which the method or means of securing the holder to the instrument is not entirely dependent upon the inherent fiexural strength of the parts. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the upper end of the frame plate 40 is formed with outwardly-extending ears 50 having threaded openings for the reception of screws 52. A plate 53 having a hook-like portion is adapted for engagement with the bail B of the watch. The plate is formed with an outwardly extending ledge 54 having openings 55 to accommodate the screws 52 for fastening the frame 40 and hook member 53 to the watch. In this form I have shown portions struck up from the body 40 to form sockets 56 for the reception of the projections of the finger loop 22a.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a construction similar to the construction shown in Figures 9 and formed to accommodate instrument cases of the character shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this form, the frame consists of a sheet metal stamping 60 in combination with a member 6| having a bifurcated portion adapted to straddle the stem S and. having an outwardly formed ledge 63 provided with openings to accommodate screws 64 whereby the holder may be attached to the watch case W, the screws extending into threaded openings formed in ears 65 extending from the frame 60. The frame is formed with struck-up mid portions 04 to provide a pivotal connection with the ends of the finger loop 22!) so as to permit folding the loop fiatwise against the watch case when not in use. In order to resiliently maintain the loop 22 in a finger-receiving position or in a folded position out-of-use, I have provided notches or recesses 66 in the outer edges of the pockets 64 whereby the loop 22 may be resiliently snapped into or out of engagement with the notches to retain the loop in desired position.

While I have described my invention as being formed of metal, the same may also be made of other materials as for example plastics or the like without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and difierent arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A holding means for an instrument case, including a frame formed of wire; said frame including angularly divergent spaced resilient portions arranged to take over the periphery of the case; and a finger encircling member integrally connected to said frame.

2. In a timepiece holder having a frame, the combination of at least three laterally divergent arms having generally arcuately shaped resilient terminal portions adapted to embrace the periphery of the timepiece, and a rearwardly extending finger loop associated with the frame for reception of a finger of the user, said loop being secured intermediate said terminal portions whereby the time piece is disposed in the palm of the users hand.

3. A holder according to claim 2 wherein said finger loop is hingedly connected to said frame.

4. A holder according to claim 2 wherein said frame is formed of sheet metal and said arms are formed by projections thereof.

5. A holder according to claim 2 wherein said arms are formed of sheet metal and are adapted to friction-ally engage said timepiece.

6. A holder according to claim 2 wherein said frame comprises spaced projections extending therefrom, said projections having openings therein, and said loop being of U -shaped configuration and having portions extending into said openings for pivotally connecting said loop to said frame.

7. A holder according to claim 2 for a timepiece having a bail adjacent its periphery, one of said arms being engageable with said bail.

8. In a timepiece holder having a frame, the combination of laterally divergent arms having generally arcuately shaped terminal portions adapted to embrace the timepiece at at least three spaced points next adjacent the periphery of said timepiece, and a rearwardly extending finger loop associated with the frame for reception of a finger of the user, said loop being secured intermediate said terminal portions whereby the timepiece is disposed in the palm of the users hand.

VICTOR E. HOFMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 742,029 Hohmann et a1. Oct. 20, 1903 1,101,499 Murphy June 23, 1914 1,248,042 Wachter Nov. 27, 1917 1,315,326 Palis Sept. 9, 1919 1,555,004 Gregory Sept. 29, 1925 1,874,813 Saunders Aug. 30, 1932 2,072,851 Bailey Mar. 9, 1937 2,222,741 Bush Nov. 26, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,117 Denmark Mar. 27, 1916 

